Your baby's progress - Week 33

Baby is possibly starting to feel squeezed by now! No doubt he isn’t as uncomfortable as he will be in a few weeks when he is thrust into the birthing process and squeezed down the birth canal. Baby’s adrenal glands have started working this week, producing that famous hormone adrenaline – a neurotransmitter which will help both mother and baby deal with the stress of labour. Baby is also receiving your antibodies to protect and develop his immune system, something which will continue as you breastfeed.

Baby is getting a big head – and not because he is a huge egotist. This is one of those weeks when unborn babies’ heads grow by up to centimetre in circumference – a huge spurt in a short time period. Baby’s brain is rapidly making more connections and growing bigger. In fact, some scientists believe baby’s brain in the 33rd week of pregnancy is the same as when he’s born around week 40. Experts have argued that birth is almost an insignificant event when it comes to brain development in babies, with the brain growing more rapidly in the womb then it does in the immediate weeks following birth.

Your baby can now determine the difference between sweet and sour tastes in the amniotic fluid which change according to what you have eaten. The theory is that these taste changes help baby adapt to the changing flavour of breast milk, which also carries the different food flavours from your diet.

Just like adults, all babies are different and develop at varying rates in the womb. This information gives a general idea of your baby's development and progress.